By Stacey Barchenger |Arizona Republic
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling Friday leaves it up to states to set law on when women can obtain abortions. That means the governor Arizonans elect this year will have the deciding vote on any future policy changes lawmakers put forward.
In light of the top court’s precedent-altering decision, and the power of the governor’s signature or veto, The Arizona Republic asked each candidate for governor to weigh in on an existing conflict in state law and when they think abortion should be available, if at all.
Arizona has a pre-statehood ban on the books, which subjects doctors who perform abortions to criminal penalties except when the mother’s life is in jeopardy.
Earlier this year, outgoing Republican Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill into law banning abortions after 15 weeks except in medical emergencies and has no exceptions for victims of rape or incest.
Which of those laws prevails is likely to be determined in coming months by legal challenges, but already the uncertainty alone caused nearly all providers in Arizona to stop services Friday.
Here are the questions we asked each Republican and Democratic candidate for governor:
Arizona has conflicting laws on the books when it comes to abortion. Which law do you want to see go into effect?
SCOTUS left it up to states to determine law on abortion. What do you believe should be the state law on abortions?
Specifically, at what stage of a pregnancy should women be able to obtain abortion, if at all? And, in what circumstances would you support exceptions?
Here’s what candidates for governor told The Republic. (We’ve edited out only their attacks on other candidates so it didn’t distract from their own views.)
